Normally I’m not into putting little people in caps and gowns and acting like they’ve accomplished something by surviving a couple hours a day of preschool. But you guys. Just look at her! Is that not the most adorable?!

I know. It’s still ridiculous. [Ridiculously cute.]

So, remember that time when I didn’t blog for a week and gave no explanation whatsoever? YEAH. Sorry about that. I’d like to tell you I was doing something exciting like sitting on a beautiful beach with no access to the internet, but my pasty skin proves that one wrong.

The short answer is that I needed some time offline. It was an unplanned but much-needed break, and I’m thankful that blogging is the kind of hobby/quasi-job that allows me to take care of what needs to be taken care of when I need to. However, that doesn’t mean I didn’t miss you all – BECAUSE I DID!

So I’m back now and ready to talk about what we’ve been INTO over the past month.

[Side note: Proof that there’s a downside to taking a blogging break? After typing up a thorough, witty and informative post for you, WordPress ate most of it. *SIGH*]

What I’m Reading:
Okay. This isn’t ALL I’ve been reading. I’ve started some really great non-fiction books, and I’ve read many more self-pubbed or already-read YA books than I’m willing to admit. So maybe next month I’ll have more to talk about. For now, it’s Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare, No More Perfect Moms: Learn to Love Your Real Life by Jill Savage, and Pros & Cons by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg.

Clockwork Angel is the first book of a prequel trilogy to The Mortal Instruments series. It was basically the same everything from the original series. But since I liked the original series, I didn’t mind. I haven’t, however, read the other two books in this trilogy. So I guess I can take it or leave it.

No More Perfect Moms is right up my alley, and even though I haven’t finished it yet, I wanted to include it. Have you read this one yet? I love that other authors are writing about the damage perfectionism can do – and sharing ways to fight it in our lives. I’ll give a fuller review next month after I’ve finished it, but for now, I’m loving it.

Pros and Cons is a prequel novella to a new series by Janet Evanovich. In other words, she’s got a new book coming out with a new writing partner, and this 99-cent fast read is a marketing tool to get us excited about it. And it worked. As soon as I finished this one, I pre-purchased The Heist, which comes out in June. Well played, marketing team. This new series is White Collar meets the Stephanie Plum books, and since I like both of those things, I’m in.

What I’m Watching:
In addition to lots of season finales (except for Nashville, so NO SPOILERS please!) and So You Think You Can Dance [dance…dance…], I also watched Iron Man 3 last month. I love superhero movies, and I love Robert Downey, Jr. – so obviously I thought this movie was great. I especially liked the way a lot of Tony Stark’s storyline – or at least his mood and motivations – focused on his PTSD resulting from his Avengers adventures. Apparently I like my superheroes super angsty.

I’ve also watched a few episodes of the new Netflix season of Arrested Development. And so far . . . it’s okay. It’s not quite the same as the first three seasons, but it’s not awful. And okay Bluths is better than no Bluths at all, I think. Have you watched it? What do you think?

What I’m Listening to:
Oh, you guys. I wish I had something interesting or cool to share here, but really, all I have to say is that I love the recent songs from both Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato. Yep. I do.

Amazing Art I’m Loving:
One of Mark’s and my best friends from college is an incredible artist. As in, he’s one of those guys that kind of make you a little sick because he’s so darned good at so many things. I’ve yet to see him attempt a kind of art that he’s not really good at! [His wife Jenni is just as talented, by the way. You might remember she wrote books for teaching your young kiddos to play the piano.]

A couple years ago, Judah started his own design studio, offering creative services like graphic design, web graphics and illustrations. And as a way to push himself creatively and share his process – and product – with us, he began his Daily Doodle blog. He draws something really cool, really creative and almost always really intricate (yes, be impressed with my fancy art words) Every.Single.Day!

The “doodle” up above is called Lion Baby, and it’s one of my favorites. Seriously – do your doodles look like this? Because my doodles typically involve dot letters, simple 3-D boxes, crooked Chevron stripes and loopy hearts. Judah’s doodles are works of art, plain and simple. Check them out here.

Best of This Blog:

• Teacher Gift Idea: Brown Sugar Body Scrub – Also known as that one time I got crafty in 2013.
• Grief is complicated. Also known as the hardest – and most important – post I wrote last month.
• Do you think I’m awesome? Also known as the one you misunderstood, because I really was NOT fishing for compliments, people!
• Why I’m still rooting for Jim and Pam – Also known as my favorite guest post (that I wrote) in a long time.
• When the long climb is worth it – Also known as the one you probably overlooked and the one I hope you read now, because I walked to the top of the dome and still found some deep thoughts to write about!

What were YOU into in May? Tell us about it in the comments!

This post will be linked up to What I’m Into at HopefulLeigh. And this post includes affiliate links.